Thread: What is this old Marples blade tool for?

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=t...HWBABAIQsAQIGg

It's a screwdriver.

Originally Posted by Gunnaduit

Found in a box of discarded and generally uninteresting tools in a Sydney laneway:

But what is it for?

mystery tool lores_01.jpgmystery tool lores_02.jpgmystery tool lores_03.jpg

The blade tip is about 9 mm broad. Currently the tip, which is symmetrically tapered, is quite rounded from use - neither ground sharp nor ground flat. The whole tool is 280 mm long.

- Ian -

Ian,
you will do a pretty heavy duty forehead slap when you find out....yep, its a screwdriver, sometimes called a turn-screw.
That one has, like plenty more the same, seen use for all kinds of other purposes.

Now lets start by listing all the things a screwdriver will do.
I'll start...
open a paint tin.
next????

Peter

edit: found a 1930 catalogue pic.

Thanks Peter for that catalogue scan! Yes a screwdriver did cross my mind, but so had possibilities as an upholstery tool etc. (along the lines of your suggestion as a paint tin opener). But anyway now that I know it is a "London Pattern" screw-turning device, I googled a bit and found a good run-down here: Progress is fine, but it's gone on for too long.: Oval handled (Flat) & London Pattern (Spindle) Screwdrivers. The excerpt he quotes suggests it was a cheap tool at the time, not as good as an 'oval-handled turnscrew' (what your catalogue page shows as a 'cabinet turnscrew'), which had a thickened shaft.

Problem solved!

Originally Posted by Gunnaduit

Thanks Peter for that catalogue scan! Yes a screwdriver did cross my mind, but so had possibilities as an upholstery tool etc. (along the lines of your suggestion as a paint tin opener). But anyway now that I know it is a "London Pattern" screw-turning device, I googled a bit and found a good run-down here: Progress is fine, but it's gone on for too long.: Oval handled (Flat) & London Pattern (Spindle) Screwdrivers. The excerpt he quotes suggests it was a cheap tool at the time, not as good as an 'oval-handled turnscrew' (what your catalogue page shows as a 'cabinet turnscrew'), which had a thickened shaft.

Problem solved!

in boxwood they are pretty!

Ian,
They are good source of pretty decent tool steel to re-purpose as well.
I've made some specialized punches using some worn even worse than yours.
Heat to red, cool slowly, then file, drill, whatever, then up to cherry red, quench in water or oil, and temper to straw yellow.

I sort of collect little ones as well....
I thought there were 6 or 7 in a box.
Peter

I love 'em and have long owned a small working set. Only problem is decent slot-head screws are an endangered species, particularly in heavier gauge brass.

Cheers,

Those are lovely collections fellas.

As it happened, the same box of nondescript tools (ETC brand pliers etc), had one, well I had been calling it a screwdriver, but now I know to call it a 'cabinet turnscrew' (sounds much more knowledgeable), which I had a go at yesterday with sandpaper from grit 60 to grit 1200 and some Shellawax.

My thinking is that here at last I have a good screwdriver to use with my 1950s-60s inherited slot woodscrew collection. I intend to use it to amuse myself with said collection when making a proper dining table (but disclaimer - refer to avatar name).

So anyway here's my magnificent collection of one:
Cabinet turnscrew lores_01.jpg

It isn't branded with a maker's name - only "Sheffield made". The handle patina I eventually conceded was never going to be sanded out - it seems to be ancient sweat, and runs in pretty deep.